How are things going for you on Instagram this week? Have you seen any impact from implementing some of the tips discussed in this series? My Instagram network score has gone up 4 points this week, and my dividend has been above 1.80 for three straight days for the first time.

Today we’re talking about hashtags…

Instagram’s use of hashtags is very similar to Twitters. Hashtags are added to any photo by preceding the tagged word with the pound sign (e.g. #sunrise) in the comment/description field. Once tagged, other IG users can find that photo when browsing or searching for that tag, for example: http://statigr.am/viewer.php#/tag/sunrise/

Hashtags are really only useful if other people are browsing /searching for them. And it turns out people do.

After reading up on hashtags, I started adding them to my photos, and the number of likes per photo doubled. The number of new followers I was getting increased as well. So, I went back and added hashtags to some older photos and their likes doubled almost instantly.

Here are 10 tips for using hashtags on Instagram

As mentioned in yesterday’s post, use the #EAvIG tag. It will help other EAv users find you.

It’s also possible to delete the existing tags and then add a different set on the photo will get more likes :)

JoeJul 11, 2012 @ 08:28:23

After the likes and follows stop coming on your 1st 30 hash tags, you cant delete them and add in the next top 30 hash tags, I have 9 sets of 30 hash tags in my notepad that I just copy and paste in instagram!

Hey Paul, thanks for the tips. You’re right that using #lots #of #hashtags can attract more new likes and follows, but over time you might find it puts off existing followers from staying engaged and ultimately staying on board. You may find less comments on posts that begin with a long list of tags, compared to posts that begin with a short title or interesting conversation opener. Maybe worth adding that to your mix anyway, have fun on IG :)

I AM. I actually found this article by googling “over use of hashtags on twitter” in hopes of being able to passive-aggressively post the article for a friend to read so she’ll stop with all the hashtag abuse. It’s beyond annoying.

I get that it helps people find your pictures, but it also makes a person look desperate for attention. A picture of their sleeping baby does not require 30 freaking hashtags: #baby #girl #babygirl #daughter #sleepy #sleep #nap #sweet #pink #pillow #crib #angel, etc., etc. Are they selling stock photography? No they are not.

I thought it was just me, but I brought it up the other night and all I could say was, “So I follow Jane on instagram…” and was immediately interrupted with comments like “My God at the hashtags, don’t you just want to shove a pound sign down her throat?” Exactly.

I did appreciate the link to the 100 most popular hashtags. That’s useful.

Thanks for the comment Brandi. I’ve heard people complain about overuse of hashtags on Twitter, but this is the first I’ve heard anyone say anything about it for Instagram. Interesting. I wonder how many other people feel the same way.

I use 15-20 hashtags for most pics I post to IG. Typically I use popular IG tags (#instagram #instagood #ig), follow back tags (#teamfollowback #ifollowback #followback), the camera used (#iphoneography #iphone #iphone4 or #canon #canonEOS #canonEOSRebelXT), the location and then a few tags related to the subject of the pic. Overkill in your opinion?

For example, I have a folder of my pic that made pop page. The folder makes it easier to remember what was, well, popular. :-) statigr.am also has some really nice stats like time of day & day of week analyses of photo engagement. It also makes it easy to see who is following you back.

I’ve tried ink361 a few times, but haven’t found anything I like better than the other two sites… also, last I checked it does not tell me which pics made pop page, which is something I like to know. Still, I recommend you try out all 3 and see which one fits you the best.

Thanks Steven. I’m finding myself using http://statigr.am a lot one. How do you know if a pic has made it to the popular page? I doubt any of mine have made it, but for future reference what should I look for?

This is such a great post pdstein! And perfect timing, just got my iphone a month ago and started really enjoying the ability to get an idea for an amazing shot just about anytime anywhere… At first I was following amazing Instagram members like Anne Thomas and noticing patterns learning a lot… now I found out about their API and “autopost” with hashtags on certain places.. Are you familiar with this?

For example if I take a picture of my white wicker porch swing, tag it:
#wicker, #wickerswing, #thefancy …. Then it will autopost to my feed on fancy. Pretty cool, I was digging around to find a list… if one exists of different sites that use this feature.

Reblogged this on [PR]etty in Pearls and commented:
Was actually going to post a similar blog about this myself, but stumbled upon yours. It’s so true! In the first 8 hours of creating an Instagram for Laffey Fine Homes we received over 160 likes! I posted 1 picture without any hashtags to see the difference and only 1 person liked it. #HashtagOn!

Have you found over the last few days Instagram has stopped applying any hashtags over & above the first 30?
I use the same method of deleting/copying & pasting various sets of 30 hashtags over a period of time, but recently I’ve noticed any sets after the first aren’t being added to the photo.
Are you experiencing the same issue? Has there been an update to eliminate multiple hashtagging?

Great tips. Some of my pictures have over 1000 likes from using hashtags as a comment and then deleting it. However, can you only use a hashtag once? For example if I used the hashtag #happy and then deleted it, could I reuse it?

This is exactly what i’ve been searching an answer for! I have deleted my 30 hashtags and reposted the same ones and my pics do not appear back on top of the pages for those tags. I dont believe you can reuse the same ones…. unless a substantial amount of time has passed? I havent gotten that far into experimenting timewise yet, but did you guys come up with the same answer so far?

I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was wondering what all is needed to get set up? I’m assuming having a blog
like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very internet savvy so I’m not 100% sure.
Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Appreciate it

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The Empire Avenue Tips blog is facilitated by Paul Steinbrueck aka (e)PDSTEIN You can find me in the top 20 on the leader boards for share price, dividend, EAv network score, Wordpress.com and goatee length.

My hope is that this blog helps you succeed in using Empire Avenue as a means to achieve your business, nonprofit and personal goals that go Beyond Empire Avenue.